UN high-level meeting on youth to open in New York on Monday

Representatives from 400 youth groups will gather in New York on Monday to attend a high-level meeting on youth convened by the General Assembly to discuss a wide range of issues of concern to the younger generation, including jobs, poverty and sustainable development.

Key speakers at the opening session of the two-day event include Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the President of the General Assembly Joseph Deiss, supermodel Alek Wek, who was born in South Sudan, and Brazilian youth representative Romulo Dantas.

A number of heads of State are also expected to attend the gathering, which will also be addressed by several other senior UN officials.

The high-level meeting is part of events to mark the International Year of Youth, and will have the overarching theme of “Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding.”

It will comprise two consecutive informal interactive thematic panel discussions on Monday and two plenary meetings on Tuesday, with the former chaired by Member States at the invitation of Mr. Deiss.

The first panel discussion will be on the theme of strengthening international cooperation on youth affairs and enhancing dialogue, mutual understanding and active participation to achieve social integration, full employment and poverty eradication.

The second panel will be on the challenges to youth development and opportunities for poverty eradication, employment and sustainable development.